8 Simple Ways To Clean The Toughest Spots In Your Home

Cleaning the house seems like a never ending task. I feel like I get one spot up to my standards and blink and it’s all out of whack again. Some spots in the house are easier and much less time consuming to get clean and others well, they are just a pain. Thankfully, there are ways to make those tough spots much easier to clean.

Smelly Dishwasher

Sometimes, the dishwasher just smells. Don’t worry though, it can be easily fixed. Using a dishwasher safe cup or bowl you have two options: You can fill it with white vinegar or, you can cut up a lemon, place it in the bowl then, fill the bowl with enough water to submerge the lemons. If this alone doesn’t work or, you just want to cover all your bases, you can clean the walls with a baking soda paste before you run the wash cycle with the bowl or cup.

Baseboards

Let’s be honest here: when was the last time you cleaned your baseboards? Not only has the idea of cleaning my baseboard escaped me once in a while, it was also a dreaded time consuming task. Thankfully, not anymore. Dryer sheets will quickly and easily wipe away the built up dust plus, keep them cleaner longer.

Microfiber Furniture

Microfiber furniture is super comfortable but, somehow manages to get really dirty, really fast. If you’re like me, you were thinking about the comfort when you bought it, not cleaning it. All you need is a foaming upholstery or carpet cleaner and a scrub brush. Spray the cleaner on the furniture and let it sit until the foam stops bubbling. Using the scrub brush, scrub the cushions in a circular motion. As the foam builds up on the scrub brush you may need a paper towel to wipe it off. Once the foam is gone and the cushion looks clean let it dry overnight.

Ceiling Fan

The ceiling fan always seems to be piled high with dust. Using vacuum attachments and even special tools meant to trap the dust and it still seems to get everywhere. Use a pillowcase. Slide the pillowcase around the blade closing the open end and the base of the blade. Slide it off and all the dust stays within the pillowcase.

Window Tracks

If you don’t have a small attachment for your vacuum cleaner, the window tracks can be difficult. Now worries though, just attach an empty toilet paper tube to your hose and make a custom attachment.

For the dirty parts, sprinkle baking soda all over the tracks. Add some white vinegar on top until it bubbles. Leave for 10 minutes then scrub with a toothbrush. Wipe clean with a cloth. Ta-da!

Air Vents

No matter how many times you run the vacuum cleaner or a dusting rag over the air vents, they still look dirty. If you use a butter knife and a rag you can get all of the leftover dirt and dust that the vacuum or rag left behind.

Under the Toilet Tank

There is a good chance this hasn’t been cleaned because well, how on earth do you clean in there. It has probably collected a lot of dust or, if you happen to have boys in the house, urine. Surprisingly, it is easy to clean. Cover the floor around the toilet with towels (the sides and behind the toilet being the most important places to cover). Get a bucket of hot soapy water and a cup. Using the cup dump water on the back of the toilet bowl so it goes under the tank. This will take several cups of water. Once a few cups of water have flushed through it you should be good. To dry it I prefer to use paper towels so I can squish them into the small space.

As a bonus the warm soapy water will help you wash the sides and behind the toilet as well.

Grout

Sooner or later your grout on your floors or bathroom tiles will get dirty and dingy. Mix together hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dawn dish soap together in a bowl. Wipe all over the grout and let sit for 10 minutes. Go back with a toothbrush and scrub away the grime!